Wall construction



Aug, 16, 1932. E H E 1,872,526

WALL CONSTRUCTION Filed July 26, 1928 famed/0 m awa 2242M M Patented Aug. 16, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EWALD F TECHMER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, '10 NATIONAL KELLASTONE COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE WALL CONSTRUCTION Application filed July 28, 1928. Serial No. 295,593.

The present invention relates to wall construction and is particularly concerned with the construction of interior walls or partitions.

In the construction of partitions for apartments, ofiice buildings and the like, it has been customary to build up the wall proper of tile, brick or some other core, after which it is necessary to secure furring strips along at) the bottom of the wall for use as aground in plastering and for securing the baseboards to the wall.

One ofthe objects of the present invention is the provision of an improved base block construction for walls of the class described,

whereby the necessit for furring strips is eliminated, the base bibck itself being capable of serving as a ground in plastering and as ,i a baseboard if desired. 2o Another object is the provision of a novel base block for partitions which is molded from an initially plastic cementitious material capable of being sawed, chiseled or nailed by means of ordinary tools, thereby making the base block adaptable to an of the conditions usually encountered in t e installation of a wall. Another object is the provision of a novel base block composition which comprises a fireproof cementitious material composed principally of magnesium oxide, magnesium chloride and wood filler such as sawdust, which may be nailed, or sawed by means of a carpenter s saw or chiseled with wood chisels in order to fit the block into any given space without seriously afl'ecting the cutting edges of the tools. I

Another object is the provision of a novel base block construction which permits the thickening of a Wall where necessary, to pass around pipes imperfectly aligned within the wall. space, the plaster ground being automatically located with reference to the thickened wall. 7

Another objectis the'provision of a base block of novel sha sloping bearing sur ace whereby y the outer portion of the weight is carried wall of the base block.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following de scription and from the accompanying drawing, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawing, of which there is one sheet:-'

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a portion of a wall, including my improved base block;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the mode of installation of the base block about pipes;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the wall in partial section, showing the mode of faking or thickening the wall wherefthe pipes are out of alignment, a condition which is frequently encountered in actual ractice;

Fig. 4 is an endview of a modi ed form of my base block.

Referring to Fig. 1, 10 indicates one of my base blocks in its entirety, including the two similar parts or halves 11 and 12. The base block is preferably, but not necessarily, formed with a hollow interior 13 in order to save material, and to providea dead air chamber which increases the sound insulating qualities of the base blocks, and the block is constructed by molding the same of an initially plastic cementitious material having the requisite qualities outlined hereinafter.

' One of the most important qualities of my base block is the quality of being severable by means of ordinary tools such as carpenters saws or wood chisels, and the quality of permitting the driving of nails into or through the block without splitting or breaking the block. This latter quality is notably absent in cementitious materials, but b using the composition hereinafter describe I am enabled to provide a base block which may be nailed in place and in which the nails will be retained much better than is the case with ordinary soft woods.

At the same time, the block molded from such composition is fireproof, soundproof."

and it may readily be cut into any shape to fit the block about pipes, between the door Per cent Asbestos Magnesium oxide approx 2 5' Magnesium chloride approx 15 Wood or other filler The foregoing elements are mixed with suflicient water to combine'the magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride, forming magnesium oxychloride, and among the various fillers which may be employed are wood, straw, cork, andother fibrous materials.

Referring to the drawing, 14 indicates" the base of the floorin 15, the blocks 11 and 12 being preferably disposed upon the floor base to form the bot-tom of the partition wall indicated in itsentirety at 16;

Each of the blocks 11 and 12 may be similar in form, the blocks being oppositely disposed to form a base block capable of supporting the wall core 17 and forming plaster grounds 18 as well as the baseboard 19. 7

As the blocks 11 and 12 are identical, the description of one of these blocks willsufiice, and each block is formed with an outer flat surface 19 which may constitute the baseboard of the finished wall. The block is substantially U-shaped in cross-section, having an inwardly extending flange 20 at its base and a similar flange 21 at its top. The bottom 22 of the flange 20 may be substantially flat to provide support for the block and the flange 20 may be ta ered in thickness toward its inner edge 23. he upper flange 21 isalso preferably tapered in thickness toward its inner edge 24 and the upper surface 25 slopes downward at a slight angle to the horizontal for a purpose further to be described.

' The upper bearing surface 25 is bounded by an upwardly a minating in a t upper surface 27 adapted to engage the plaster coat 28 The width ofthe surface 27 is substantially equal to the thicknessof the plaster coat to be applied to the'wall core 17. The surface 18 extending transversely to the surface 27 may therefore serve as aground in plastering. Intermediate the ground surface 18 and the baseboard extending shoulder 26 ter-- flanges 20 and 21 block of two sect1ons,'I am enabled to fit'the .blocks adjacent pipesat'any point within the that the plaster This block 'ing 'upper bearin 19,the blocks may be provided molding the baseboard.

When the blocks 11 and 12 are oppositely disposed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, they are or with a shoulder 29 simulating the top of adapted to form a base block section having a hollow interior 13 and having an upper bearing surface 25, both sides of which slope toward the center. The wall core 17 being provided with an ordinar flat lower bearing surface the wall core wi be supported for;

the maJo'r part at the outer portions of the surface 25 adjacent the shoulder 26, thereby placing the major portion of the weight of the wall upon theouter ipart'of the base block instead of uponthe anges 20 and 21;

The shoulders 26 are adapted to serve as means for aligning a core above thebase ,block and the shoulders 18 automatically locate groundsffor plastering in the proper position.

Referringto Fig. 2, a will be observed that ordinary gas, water and soil pipes may readily be surrounded by my base block sections by cutting notches 30 and 31 in the By constructing my base length of, the blockjwithout cutting off the block and without cutting elongated slots extending from the end. of the block.

Referrlng to Fig. 3, I have here illustrated .a condition which frequently arises in the construction of partitions or interior walls.

The soil pipe32 in Fig. 3 has been located either by necessity or throu h at such a point that it would 0 ject from the'outer surface of the wall 1- careless workrdinarilyfro the wall were of normal thickness and con- I structed in the ordinary manner. ,In order to fake a wall aboutsuchprojecting pipes,

it is customary to apply a thicker coat of plaster or to build upthe wall by means'of furring strips beneath the laths. As my base block 1s constructed of two similar sections,

this contingency ma be readily taken care of by slightly sprea ing the blocks at such a point, or by uniformly thickening the wall.

from a corner past the point where the pipe is located, the amount of spread being such grounds 18 are substantially outside of the 1pipe 32.- Thus the grounds are automatica y located in such position that'the pipe 32 will be covered b coat and the wallwill be slight? the plaster y thickenedwithout the necessity of special workin faking the wall about the projecting pipe. Referring to Fig. 4, I have here illustrated .a modified form of my base block in whichthe entire block is made in one inte ral piece. 1s likewise provided wit the wall core allgn n-g shoulders 26, the inwardly slopunds 18, the p aster coat engaging sur- 0 was 27 and the baseboard surfaces 19. The

surfaces 25, the plaster ed, it possesses block of the present embodiment may also be made hollow as at' 13 in order to save material and to provide a dead air s ace in the block and it will be evident from t e foregoing that many of the advantages of my invention may be utilized without incorporating all of the features described herein.

It will hus be observed that I have invented a base block having means of which much the labor of the installation of furring strips and baseboards is eliminated. Furthermore, b virtue of the lock is formcomposition of which my base uliar qualities so that a nail may readily driven in to the cementitious material of which the block is com a novel shape, by a and the like, said upper bearing flange In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 80 111 name this 18th da of Jul 1928. y swa r. 'lliCHMER.

without splitting the block and without orming such a large aperture that the nail will be loose. p

My block may therefore be nailed in place so t at the partition ma readil be rovided with means for anc oring e w place, consisting of a plurality of nails driven through the lower flanges20 and the blocks may be readily adapte to any space by sawing them ofi with an ordinary carnters saw or b chiseling notches in the locks to surroun pipes, wires or other installations.

, While I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my device, and I have given a specific formula of the com 'tion of matter employed, I do not-wis to be limited to the precise details of construction set" forth, I changes within the scopeof the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters itially-plastic Patent of the United States, is:

1. A base block structure molded from incementitious material, and having an upwardly-directed ledge surface of a width to gauge the thicknesslof a plaster but desire to avail myself of all coat thereabove and. another bearing surface inwardl thereof at a difierent level and sloping slig tly in.

2. A base itially-plastic cementitious material comprising two co-acting parts separable to a variab e wardly-directed ledge surface of a width to gauge the thickness of a plaster coat thereabove and another bearing surface sloping slightly in.

3. A base block structure molded from initially-plastic cementitious material, comprising-two coacting parts separable to a variable extent, each part having an upwardly-directed ledge surface of a width to gauge the thickness of a plaster coat thereabove and another bearing surface inwardly thereof at a difierent level and sloping alightly in. a

block structure molded from il lextent, each part having an up- 

